Who to watch and what to buy this Black Friday

Written by Staples Knowledge Centre

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Buyers Guides

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1st December 2015

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3 Minutes

Up until a few years ago, Black Friday was traditionally something only our stateside counterparts were treated to, as larger retail stores got the Christmas shopping season underway with a flourish by offering huge discounts on popular products within their brick-and-mortar stores for one day only.

A tradition first started in the States during the 1960s, now UK shoppers are also being tempted through the doors of big retailers with the promise of equally appealing sales prices on the day after American Thanksgiving.

During the big weekend that also includes Cyber Monday – which sees smaller retailers getting in on the action with some great online-only deals – there’s usually something for everyone. From cookware to crayons, we’ve kept an eye on the hottest products to find out which retailers are expected to leap into action on the big day.

Electronics

With gadgets growing increasingly popular throughout the past few years – not to mention the likes of Asda becoming known on Black Friday for their knockdown prices on televisions – it seems that every provider of gaming technology has an eye on providing a Black Friday bargain.

With many gamers compiling a Christmas wish list of all the latest titles, retailers like Game will be only too happy to oblige with discounts on select offerings. Last year saw the release of new titles in the Assassin’s Creed and Call of Duty series which keen shoppers eagerly snapped up.

John Lewis also had a line on discounted Apple products last year^[1], including MacBook’s and iPad’s which sold^[2] like the proverbial hot cakes, meaning that there are options for the premium tech lover in your life.

Homeware, furnishings and accessories

The usual suspects – John Lewis again, and Debenhams^[3] – can be relied on for a bargain when it comes to the Black Friday spectacular. Stylist magazine noted^[4] last year that House of Fraser and Kelly Hoppen were also offering deals on their furnishings and homeware.

Fashion

For anyone who’s looking to sparkle at their work’s Christmas party, top brands are happy to help with savings on the best clothing and beauty products.

Stylist mentions that last year’s Black Friday festivities included sale offers from fashion brands like ASOS, River Island and Topshop. While some deals lasted only a matter of hours on the Friday, others ran the entire weekend, giving stressed shoppers a chance to visit the sales online at their own convenience.

It isn’t just limited to the high street brands either. Plenty of online-only boutiques were sure to get their products out to as many willing buyers as possible, with Boohoo.com breaking sales records^[5] last year.

According to one newspaper, Black Friday is set to break^[6] the £1 billion barrier for the first time this year – customers and retailers alike are preparing themselves for a big day both on the high street and in virtual marketplaces. But while the retailers are pushing the percentage discounts as a point of interest, your eye should always be on the bottom line – making sure that the sale price itself appeals enough to you to shell out for something.